THE Metrorail strike by members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is set to end - at least temporarily - after a court interdict, the union said yesterday.

THE Metrorail strike by members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union is set to end - at least temporarily - after a court interdict, the union said yesterday.

"The interdict gave us 48 hours to talk to workers. We'll meet them today at 11am to discuss the way forward. Under normal circumstances the court interdict would force us back to work," Satawu spokesperson Zenzo Mhlangu said.

Metrorail spokesperson Sibusiso Ngomane expressed hope that the strike would end soon.

"I think the fact that the court interdict was received late on Tuesday means some of them are not aware there is an interdict against their illegal labour action," he said.

But Mhlangu said the interdict required Satawu and Metrorail to return to negotiations at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on February 4. If a resolution is not found Satawu members might go back on strike.

"There is the possibility of another strike if the parties fail to find an amicable solution," Mhlangu said.

"The interdict is not cast in stone, it is interim."

Metrorail services were operating at 70percent capacity across Gauteng yesterday, Ngomane said.

While Mhlangu expected Satawu members to report for duty they would do so reluctantly.

The fate of the 196 Satawu members who refused to work on Sunday under the new labour conditions, which sparked the current strike, was unknown. Metrorail has offered them their jobs back on a "case-by-case basis".

A meeting between Metrorail and Satawu, scheduled for Tuesday, did not take place because Metrorail management instead went to court to obtain the interdict. - Sapa